Bulgaria investor residence permit: the official terms
Yes, Bulgaria's official administrative-service description lists investment as a ground for long-term residence, but investing does not guarantee a permit and the rules change often. This article is not a residence application and not legal advice; for an investment-based file, hire a lawyer who works in Bulgaria.
Visas and residence · Last reviewed: 2026-10-07
This is not legal or financial advice
What the service description says
In Bulgaria's state administration information system (IISDA), the service “Permission for long-term residence of foreigners” lists grounds under Article 24 and following articles of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act. The investment-related ones are below. The description states amounts in the former national currency, so the euro figures are converted at the fixed official rate and are approximate.
| Route | Condition as described | Watch out |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate | About EUR 307,000 per foreigner to acquire property, or the foreigner owns over 50% of a Bulgarian company that acquired property of that value. On the filing date the sum must be fully paid into an account at a licensed Bulgarian credit institution; if a loan was used, the unpaid part may not exceed 25%. | A loan-financed purchase has a ceiling; confirm it before buying. |
| Company in a less developed region | About EUR 128,000 paid into the capital of a Bulgarian company; at least 50% of shares; new fixed assets and at least 5 jobs for Bulgarian citizens kept for the stay, certified by the Ministry of Economy. | Which regions qualify is set by separate legislation. |
- General conditions under any ground: secured housing, mandatory health insurance, and means of support without social assistance (not below the minimum wage, stipend or pension).
- Applicants aged 18 and over: a criminal-record certificate from the country of nationality or usual residence.
Process and timing
File in person
Applications go to the Migration Directorate (Sofia) or the migration units of regional Interior Ministry directorates, where biometrics are also taken.Review period
The description gives 14 to 60 days, extendable by up to two months for complex cases; its header states an upper bound of 120 days. If requested documents are not supplied in time, the procedure is closed and the application is not examined again.Decision
The decision is written; the permit runs up to 5 years depending on the ground. Appeals have a 14-day window; see our appeals article.
Investment is not a guarantee
Frequently asked questions
If I buy property, do I get a permit automatically?
No. Property is a ground to apply; the permit is issued after the general conditions are checked: housing, insurance, means of support and a clean record.
Are the amounts in this article exact?
No. They come from the official description and were converted at the fixed rate. Ask the Migration Directorate (migration@mvr.bg) to confirm the current threshold in writing before applying.
Sources
The information on this page is based on the official sources listed below. Legislation changes — open the links and verify the current position.
- ИИСДА — Разрешаване на продължително пребиваване на чужденци (МВР) — https://iisda.government.bg/adm_services/services/service_provision/21815 · 2026-10-07
- Дирекция „Миграция“ — МВР: Разрешения за пребиваване — https://www.mvr.bg/migration/%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B8-%D1%83%D1%81%D0%BB%D1%83%D0%B3%D0%B8/%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B8-%D1%83%D1%81%D0%BB%D1%83%D0%B3%D0%B8-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8/%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%88%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5 · 2026-10-07
- Дирекция „Миграция“ — МВР: Contacts — https://www.mvr.bg/migration/en/about-directorate/info/contacts · 2026-10-07
Related topics
How to get a Bulgarian residence permit
A residence permit is not one application but a chain: legal ground, long-stay visa, in-country filing, address registration, card. Where the chain breaks.
Types of Bulgarian residence permit and how they differ
What separates continued, EU long-term and permanent residence? Who decides, how each status is acquired, and the ways it can be lost.
Income required for Bulgarian residence
The subsistence requirement for a Bulgarian residence permit is not a fixed figure but a rule tied to the minimum wage and minimum pension; the 2026 reference amounts are given with sources.
Bulgaria residence permit refused: how to appeal
The appeal window in the official service description is 14 days. The administrative and court routes, where a visa refusal goes, and the first steps.
Bulgarian permanent residence: the conditions
Permanent residence is an open-ended status, but the card is not. Who qualifies, what it gives you, and how it can be lost.